tarboat's photos with the keyword: hyde

Hyde Library was originally Hyde Technical School and Free Library. The foundation stone was laid in 1897 and it opened in 1899 replacing the former Mechanics Institute. In 2015 library services were moved into the Town Hall and the building abandoned. It is not listed and is now in a terrible state. The terracotta ornamentation on the building is lavish and is topped-off by a statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of the arts, trade, and strategy, holding a book.

Joseph Adamson and Co at Hyde were boilermakers. The company started in partnership by Joseph Adamson and Henry Booth in 1874. The works which continued making boilers to the 1960s and beyond are now a small industrial estate.

Auto-Masters Ltd is a family firm that was founded in 1947. It specialises in producing special purpose machinery for a wide range of industries along with manufacturing and designing Harnden plastic bag making machinery and the Rowland range of friction material and foundry equipment. This is their premises at Hyde shortly before it was all demolished and now housing stands on this site. The company is now based at Hadfield, Glossop.

The use of terracotta ornamentation for walls and pillars was common in the late nineteenth and first quarter of the twentieth century. Much has been replaced or swept away these days, so it was good to find this survivor in Mill Lane, Hyde. There had been more along the block but this was the sole survivor. A look at the wall further along showed that the bricks were from the Black Hill Brick Co Ltd Entwistle Bolton Lancashire but that may not be the source of the decorative pieces.

The once ubiquitous brick built factory chimney is becoming quite scarce these days. Those that survive have often found new uses such as this one in Hyde that carries communications equipment. I have failed to discover what the original business was that operated this chimney and would welcome any suggestions.

The Philanthropic Mutual Life Assurance Collecting Society was established in 1830 according to the sign on the end of the former headquarters building. I have been able to find out very little about the Society although it must have been one of many mutual self help type organisations that were established by working people in industrial areas. I think that 'The Philanthropic' may have ceased business in 1991. As for the building, it has clearly seen better days but still retains a certain amount of class underneath the lager adverts. The lower sashes upstairs all have acid etched patterned glass - very nice.

Providence MIll in Hyde was built in the late nineteenth century for cotton spining but is now in multiple industrial occupation.

Office entrance of the Caxton Mill in Hyde. I have not been able to find out much about this mill and would welcome any information.

The Theatre Royal in Hyde opened in 1902 to the design of Architects Campbell and Horsley of Manchester and the building contractors Robinson and Sons of Hyde. The cost of building was £10,000. It seated 1200. In 1914 a cinerma screen was added and live shows and cinema were both presented until the last live performance in 1974. A second screen was then built on the stage area and the two screen cinema continued to run until final closure in 1992. Today the building is a listed structure and a charity group is pressing for restoration and re-use of the building rather than demolition.

Hyde Town Hall was opened on 27th June 1885. The architect was J.W. Beaumont. Terracotta detail is offset by extensive use of ashlar work in a building that was designed at the start of the brief popularity of terracotta in civic design in the UK.